Gaza Update (10 p.m. Israel; 3 p.m. Eastern US): A Truce Offer Which Will Go Nowhere

Today's diplomatic news is the reported offer by Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader in exile in Damascus, of a cease-fire via the Russian Foreign Ministry. The condition is that Israel release its economic blockade of Gaza.

The approach, unfortunately, will be a non-starter. Even if Mashaal rather than the local Hamas leadership in Gaza speaks for the party, Tel Aviv will respond by saying that it will not lift the blockade in advance of a Hamas declaration of a cessation of rocket and mortar attacks. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert launched his own pre-emptive diplomatic strike to this effect, saying, "We did not enter this operation in order to end it with the firing still continuing."

So, for now, it looks like more of the same with continued Israeli military operations and diplomatic manoeuvrings by each side --- Israel to keep open a window for its attack and attempt to break Hamas, Hamas to mobilise international as well as local opinion for long-term political advantage.

Comments

[Anonymous]

A lot of people in the world have been donating money to the Palestinians. Instead of taking care of their own people and investing this money to improve their lives in Gaza they have been dedicating all their efforts into destruction and buying weapons.

Have we ever heard about anything good Hamas has done for their own people ?

Have we ever heard anything positive they have done ?

[John Benson]

The troubling part of it all is that while the world hates terrorism,they are happy at the prospect of Israel's destruction preached by such people as Amadinejad,Hamas and Hesbollah.
The world fails to remember that these are people who will impose an Islamic style Shariya if their aims are met.But then the vicious cycle continues.
World hates Israel;World fears terrorism which Israel is engaged in defeating;but world supportive of those perpetrating terror.
Ever thought of Russia--how that no one questions them except Russian journalists who brave their own government to report and die for the truth?
I don't see CNN and Fox news or BBC in those places.When it comes to Israel,everybody has an opinion.Freedom will never be appreciated until it finally slips away.
Where are the French and the Germans and the Spaniards,the Italians? Where are the "almighty" forces of Western Europe?Why can't they openly condemn Hamas like they do Israel?Why should they wait for the US to do the talking for them?
These governments are certainly images of cowardice.

[John Benson]

Israel should in my opinion hit Hamas the hardest this trip.They should seek to obliterate their ability to build up any negotiating muscle.These rocket firing incidents are Hamas' way of getting attention.Now they got it.But after that??
Let Israel maneuver the world with all the diplomatic muscles they can flex.
Hopefully,the Europeans will understand and issue out direct statements condemning Hamas.
I wonder why Europe never thinks for a moment before condemning the US,while they fear saying anything that will annoy terrorists.Too much freedom is bad for your health.

[Dave]

"Hopefully,the Europeans will understand and issue out direct statements condemning Hamas."
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They won't. Europe's leftwing media, intellectual and political elites keep drinking the Arab kool-aid.

“It is understandable that someone might justify the Holocaust.” -- Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero